Her long, wet, brunette hair fell over her shoulders, part of it fanned out behind her as it touched the water, and the rest covered her breasts. Her fair skin was flawless and looked as if it could feel like velvet. With each move she made, Sytravious took in the image of perfection and he imagined how it would feel to touch her soft skin.
His eyes followed her as she began to wander to the shore. Without the concealment of the water, more of her body became exposed and Sytravious could not tear his eyes away from her. Even from the side view, he could tell she was a petite girl and despite her young age, her body was quite curvaceous. With the undergarment clinging to her skin, the water gracefully trickled down her supple breasts, flat belly, and full hips, before disappearing back into the spring. Sytravious continued to gawk at the young beauty’s impeccable figure, having never seen a girl so exposed before. It was clear to him that he should not be watching her this way, but her radiance was ensnaring him.
As he debated whether he should swim away and forget this encounter or make his presence known, his curiosity, and strong desire to know this girl, overpowered his common sense. The further she strode away, the less of a chance he would ever see her again. Despite every concern he felt about unveiling himself to this girl who he knew nothing about, the possibility of never having this opportunity again was just not an option for him.
He began to swim over to her, trying to conjure up a sensible way to introduce himself. All sorts of wild thoughts were coursing through his mind when the smiling young maiden looked back, spotting him. It was at that moment he caught a glimpse of her angular, glittering honey colored eyes. The smile faded from her face, and her joyous expression was replaced with a look of alarm. He knew he had to speak now or else he would risk frightening her even more.
“That had to be the sweetest smile I have ever seen,” he said.
Startled and panicked, the girl let out a high-pitched shriek. Her hands covered her exposed body and she plunged down in the shallow water. She seemed scared and unable to move. The uncomfortable moment felt as if it lasted an eternity. He held his hands up and turned his back to her in attempt to ease her fear. Even without looking at her, the damsel’s effortless beauty still burned bright in his thoughts.
“What are you doing in my bath?” she screamed at him.
Her sudden tantrum snapped Sytravious right out of his daydream. He should have expected it, but he was still caught off guard by her accusatory tone. He looked over his shoulder, and raised an eyebrow in surprise. His crystal blue eyes caught a glimpse of her in his peripheral vision, and he snickered at her.
“Pardon me my lady, but unless I am somehow mistaken, this is a public spring. It is open to all citizens. So I am not sure how it qualifies as yours, or even a bath for that matter.”
Her mouth dropped in shock at his shrewd response. “Very well sir, I suppose it is not really mine. However, I am still a young woman who happens to be swimming in my undergarment. It is about a simple matter of privacy. A lady ought to be able to enjoy the springs without worrying about strangers with prying eyes. Is there no consideration for a girl’s privacy anymore?”
Sytravious noticed her tone of voice, while still stern was not quite a shout anymore. Feeling that her anger was subsiding, he allowed himself to regain his composure. His heart was still pounding hard from the thrilling range of emotions he had just experienced in these brief moments.
“Now please sir, have the courtesy to allow me to dress without having to worry about your wandering stare.”
He rolled his eyes and gave an exaggerated exhale, expressing his frustration with her accusations. Sytravious could hear her moving through the water and thought it would be best to fulfill her request by keeping his back to her. He did not want to scare her away.
Sytravious decided to break the growing silence between them, and continued with the conversation, “I do suppose there is a matter of privacy for a lady in her bath. However, as I mentioned before, this is a public spring. Nobody told you to bathe here. But I will say, because of your poor judgment, I have never seen a better sight in all my days.”
He thought he heard a small chuckle, but he did not receive a response from her. Perhaps it was his ears deceiving him. It was more likely that she was shaking her head in disapproval. Then he grinned while he envisaged her body dripping with sparkling drops of water behind him.
“Look, I am not trying to be rude miss, but there should be no expectations for privacy when you swim here. It is communal area, and you are the one who chose to swim in nothing but your undergarment. At least I had the decency to keep my pants on.” He laughed at his own comment. “Do you not have a bath at home? If I did not know any better, I might think your intentions were to tempt any potential spectators by flaunting yourself.” Sytravious hoped his words would not ring true. “Though, I suppose it is none of my business, just making an observation, my lady.”
“If you must know, I happen to swim here almost every morning and never have I had to deal with such an interruption before. It is something I have been able to enjoy in private, until today. Obviously, I did not expect any onlookers, such as yourself. So please do not insult me with such assumptions.”
With her response, he felt relief and assurance that she was the pure and innocent girl he had conceived her to be.
“Alright, you may turn around now.”
He was grateful that she had not dashed off while his back was turned. He let out a small sigh of relief and turned around, careful not to reveal how eager he was to lay eyes on her again. She smiled at him. Her tranquil demeanor suggested she was not angry with him and had only been defensive due to her initial surprise.
“Actually, it has never been possible for me to expect much privacy in my home. Not when there are countless eyes on me from the time I wake up.”
He watched her every move. She twisted her sopping chestnut brown hair in an attempt to wring out the water. He focused on her face, an image of perfection, but then he hesitated for a moment and took the time to observe her unique attire. Sytravious’ mind was racing as he began to piece together whom this maiden was.
Covering her tiny feet were fancy slippers that were encrusted with sapphires and pearls. She wore a delicate blue dress that was tailored for her body. The luxurious fabric draped over her figure and tied behind her neck. Her petite shoulders were bare, until she pulled an ivory hooded cloak over them. The cloth shimmered with golden embroidery that was laced along the edges, accenting the sparkle in her golden eyes. The matching pin she used to fasten the cloak was in the shape of a hand with a halo around it, the insignia of the temple of Vesalys. He tilted his head to the side as he studied the revelation in front of him. It was without a doubt the Priestess of Havencrest.
“Surely now you can appreciate why I had yet to mention it, but my name is Raiven. I am the Priestess of Havencrest and a disciple of our goddess, Vesalys. Well, soon-to-be Priestess, I am actually still in training. My mentor and the Head Priest of Havencrest, Master Vienken is currently the temple’s protector.”
The grin on her face left Sytravious to deduce that she expected him to be taken by surprise, but the arrogant smirk that spread across his face as he began to tread through water, only proved he would not be deterred by this newfound fact.
“You are full of surprises. I find it unfair that you waited until after I have teased you to share this bit of information with me. How is it that a priestess finds herself this far away from the temple? When traveling such a distance alone, there are far worse things that could entrap you besides my charm. Have you not heard that there have been womach sightings around here?” He stepped upon the shore to join her.
“Womachs? No, but what gave you the impression I was alone?”
Sytravious glanced around for any sign of a guardian. When he returned his gaze to her, he saw the maiden eyeing his dripping wet body. In that moment, he felt a twinge of triumph, but it was short-lived as he recalled Raiven’s status an
d knew it was possible for her guardians to be in the area. The unease within him grew because he understood being in her presence did not qualify as being cautious. This insignificant meeting would enrage not only his mother, but the temple guardians as well. Any misconception of the events that had occurred could lead to his immediate incarceration.
Just as that thought crossed his mind, he knew that his deep attraction to her had already clouded his judgment. His common sense was overridden by his fascination with her, and his courage became stronger than his fear. That was all it took to expel the anxious feelings from within him. With each passing moment, he relaxed and became his confident self again.
“Well?” he questioned and raised his eyebrow to prompt her reply. He scanned their surroundings one last time and said, “You are definitely alone, Priestess. There is no way they would allow you to be so close to potential harm. You had me there for a moment.”
“Very well, you got me. I have been sneaking away from my guardians so that I may enjoy some time alone. They may guard me on a daily basis, but I do not need protection. I know this may come as a surprise to you, but I am capable of more than just healing. I can handle myself in most situations.”
“I do not doubt that you are capable of taking care of yourself. However, you should still be concerned about being caught out here with me. I mean, what will people think?” He mocked and feigned shock as he widened his eyes.
She also took part in the joke by covering her mouth in pretend astonishment. He studied Raiven as she stood there exuding purity. Her child-like innocence was part of what captivated him.
“If I were you I would be much more concerned about being found out here with me, but I will not tell your secret if you do not tell mine.”
Sytravious took notice of her playful tone and it only made him wish to spend as long as possible with her. He decided to carry on with the jesting if it meant postponing her departure.
“Secret? What secret of mine would you know about?”
“That you were spying on me while I was improperly clothed, of course. If you can keep quiet about this encounter between the two of us, then I may be able to pardon your inappropriate behavior.”
Sytravious’ jaw dropped in disbelief. Though he was impressed by her capability to place all the blame on him, he was still insistent on defending his honor. He shook his head and repeated his argument again. “Despite what you think Priestess, I was not spying. Any man, or woman for that matter, is entitled to a morning swim in the woods of all places.”
He realized it was a battle he could not win when instead of agreeing, she gave him most unsympathetic scowl she could muster. Even with her face screwed up like that, Sytravious was still entranced by her glowing beauty.
“Very well, if that is how it will play out, then it is agreed. This will be our secret, and a secret it shall stay Priestess.”
She peered over at Sytravious through her long lashes, and suddenly appeared to be shy. “Just ‘Raiven’ will be fine, thank you. And you might be?”
In response to her question, he dealt with yet another internal struggle. He could not just be open with a stranger, no matter how breathtaking she was. His parents had raised him to never share any details of his life with anyone, but he did not want to begin whatever this could be with a lie. So he settled upon being semi-truthful with the priestess by giving her his real name, but a fabricated story to go along with it. While he thought through the backstory he had been taught in order to conceal his real identity, she had taken a seat on the grass. She looked at him with inquisitive eyes.
“You may call me Sytravious. I come from west end of Havencrest. I work as an apprentice blacksmith in a modest little place by the name of The Dew Drop Inn. You may have heard of it. I help forge arrows and horse shoes for the city’s court with my stepfather.” He waited to see if she would accept his story as true.
“A smith you say?” She hesitated and eyed him up and down. “No, I do not believe that for one minute. What smith has a physique like yours?”
“Like what?” He was flattered the priestess noticed his build, and was unable to mask the overconfidence he had in his appearance. It did not take much to notice that he was in better shape than most men, a fact he was well aware of.
“So I gather you have been taking in more than just the scenery?”
“What? No! That is not at all what I meant!”
Her cheeks turned pink with embarrassment. Sytravious snickered as he noticed her rosy cheeks. He thought it was charming how easy it was to embarrass her.
“It is just… I have never seen anyone so…able-bodied?” She squinted her eyes, looking a bit confused by her own choice of words. “You have a look that is reminiscent of a warrior, or even a seasoned knight, like my cousin Kenshiro.”
“Your cousin is General Kenshiro, the knighted Commander of the elite guard?”
“Do not fear. You can put your mind at ease, as I have already told you that today’s events will stay between the two of us. Plus, I have no desire to witness the inevitable wrath that would follow if he knew you were taking in more than the scenery as well.”
“Well of course, if you word it that way…” he mumbled, just loud enough for her to hear.
She giggled, and then let out a relaxed sigh while staring up at their surroundings. Seeing how she was allowing herself to loosen up in his presence, helped boost his confidence. He decided to sit on the ground next to her and take a moment to appreciate the nature.
In the spring, the water now stood still and the steam continued to rise from its warm depths. All types of branches and vines intertwined, creating the natural canopy that provided shade for them. Through the organic cover, thin bands of light streaked through, illuminating various spots of the spring. Wherever the sunlight touched was irradiated with vibrant colors. He could smell the fragrant aroma of the variety of flowers that surrounded them, and their splendid hues offered a vibrant pop of color against the natural shades that bordered the spring’s edge.
“I can see why you swim here often. I am tempted to return here myself. It is a gorgeous place, but it is your presence that does it justice, and I must say I would love to see both of these beautiful sights again. That is, if I am invited of course.”
Raiven looked like she could not help but laugh at his audacious attitude. It was understandable, he was sure no one had ever dared approach the priestess in such a blunt and daring manner. Sytravious was pleased with himself, though he knew he risked being too forward.
“You are either very brave or very foolish. Why would I invite you to swim with me? You must be aware that since I am a priestess I am only allowed such freedoms with boys when the right to be courted has been granted by High Priestess Jezra. The courting then leads to marriage with a suitor that she has declared worthy.”
“So you cannot swim with me unless the High Priestess approves of it first? That sounds complicated.”
“It is complicated to say the least. The decision cannot even be made until the High Priestess has prayed to Vesalys for guidance, which can take weeks.” She sighed. It was clear that Raiven had mixed emotions when it came to this topic.
“To even flirt with me the way you have today can be viewed as punishable. How can you even imagine meeting again in private?”
Sytravious was fascinated as he listened to her response. He was never one to take the temple goddess serious, and often questioned the logic in worshipping her as a deity at all. The temple of Valcrest had imposed strict rules on the realm, requiring them to hold Vesalys as the one true power over the entire kingdom. In turn, this meant all other forms of worship and magic outside of the temple’s beliefs, were unholy.
Many citizens had been dragged out of their homes and arrested in the past when word of something as minor as an interest in other types of magic was discovered. The punishments were always more harsh when a major offense was involved, such as using actual talents in various styles of magic, especially the foreign ar
ts from Moruz. It was a well-known fact that King Lucas was prejudice against the kingdom across the sea, and regarded the entire country as a blasphemy to Vesalys. Therefore, anyone associated with the western land was in extreme danger of being seized by the temple.
Sytravious held a personal grudge against the persecutions of the people, being he was one of a few people left in Havencrest who practiced foreign magic. It was something that had been passed down to him from his mother since he was a child, so his defiant attitude toward the worship of Vesalys was instilled in him from a young age. He knew if he was not careful, it was going to get him in trouble.
“What if I said I do not care because I do not believe in your goddess? Would you invite me for a swim then?”
Raiven stared at him, her expressive eyes gave away her initial look of confusion, but then they lit up with a passion she could not contain. “How could you not believe in Vesalys? Her creations can be seen all around us, and her power has been witnessed countless times during times of war and peace. She protects us from the evil of the western lands. I have felt her power through my own hands and prayers. Vesalys is very real, Sytravious, even if you do not believe in her.”
“That may be so, but I still think it is preposterous that your goddess would deny you the natural freedom to be with any man whom you choose, and instead lets a high priestess decide who can court you? Does that not seem a little bizarre to you?”
Raiven frowned and seemed to dwell on his words for quite some time. She looked away from his deep stare, and began to twiddle the edges of her cloak between her fingers. Sytravious took notice of her unease while she fidgeted with the glimmering gold stitching in her lap. Perhaps the realizations he had brought to her attention troubled her now. He did not want to push the priestess too much, because he did not want their time together to end in such an abrupt manner.
She stood up and replied with conviction, “You know, it is not for us to question, but to embrace and be obedient. Much of what we are taught does not make sense to us at first, but it is always for the best in the end. It has been that way for countless years.”
Sytravious: The Lost Warlock Of Moruz (The Oathbreaker Book 1) Page 2
